Chapter 74 Chapter 74 [VIP]
Chapter 74
Tonight, Young Master Lan and Qian Tong were both not very drunk. They had two drinks and just kept talking. They didn't part until late at night. Fearing that the road would be difficult to walk on in the dark, Qian Tong asked Ajin to escort the person back.
She also walked him to the door, and only turned back to the house after watching Young Master Lan's back disappear.
But when he turned around, he saw a young man standing next to the door behind him. He was dressed in black and almost blended into the night. Only his face was as bright as the moon.
Qian Tong was startled, "World..."
Suddenly she stopped and smiled at him.
Song Yunzhi saw her take a breath and opened her mouth to scream, "There's a thief..."
Song Yunzhi: "......"
Song Yunzhi stepped forward, grabbed her arm, pulled her into his arms, covered her mouth, dragged her into the room, closed the door, and pushed her against the door. Only after he was sure that she would not scream anymore did he let go.
Young Master Lan had just left, leaving the candlelight still burning in the room. Qian Tong blinked, as if he had just recognized the person. A look of shock and surprise filled his face. "It's the Crown Prince! I thought it was some flower thief. After all, the Crown Prince of Song is a man of bright and clear character, with a clear mind. How could he climb over the wall to visit a young lady's courtyard and even enter her boudoir in the middle of the night?"
Her face was full of ridicule, and Song Yunzhi felt a little uncomfortable, but since he chose to come, he was prepared to be ridiculed by her.
Qian Tong also noticed that Prince Song seemed different tonight. He used to be serious, but tonight he looked serious and didn't care what you said.
Qian Tong then asked, "Why did the prince come to visit so late at night? What's the urgent matter?"
As his palm touched her lips, the residual warmth of his breath lingered there, tingling and wet. He squeezed them gently, then stepped back and walked towards where she and Young Master Lan had just sat. He glanced at the wine jug that had not yet been put away and said, "Come and have a candlelit chat with Madam Qian."
Qian Tong was a little surprised.
Song Yunzhi had already taken his seat, his sword resting beside him. He was dressed in his attire tonight, as if he had come specially for her. She dared not mock him anymore, so she also walked over to the futon opposite him and sat down, asking, "Prince, what do you want to talk about?"
Song Yunzhi asked, "Has Lan Yi been here?"
The oil lamp was half-burned. Qian Tong flicked the wick lightly and muttered, "Is the prince so obsessed with me? He even wants to monitor my every move."
Song Yunzhi glanced at the candlelight dancing between her eyebrows, his slightly curled eyelashes casting a shadow on her cheek. They were too close, so he stepped back, averted his eyes and asked, "What did you talk about?"
Qian Tong still remembered the scene at the saltworks that day, when he grasped her shoulders and escorted her out the door. Similarly, tonight, she folded her arms and looked up, "I think that although the Crown Prince is of noble status, he has no right to inquire into the private affairs of a young lady like this..."
"What status do I have to ask you this?" Song Yunzhi suddenly interrupted and stared at her.
Who doesn't want an identity?
Qian Tong also put aside his playful thoughts at his slightly annoyed look and said seriously, "Young Master Lan and I were discussing serious matters, and they were about you, the Crown Prince."
Song Yunzhi did not miss the evasive look on her face, and his heart sank.
I heard her say, "Princess Pingchang went to the Park family's residence tonight to meet with the Park family's eldest wife. After they left, the eldest wife began to arrange her forces. She has three assassins under her command. Lan Yi had seen them before. They all came tonight. I don't know what the eldest wife said to them. The three of them hurriedly left the Park family. Later, the eldest wife returned to the courtyard, called the housekeeper, and prepared the invitation. When the prince arrives tomorrow, she will invite the prince and the prince to a banquet at the Park family's residence."
Qian Tong's expression was focused and solemn. "Lan Yi suspected that they were planning to harm the Crown Prince, so he took the risk to come and report the news. Even if the Crown Prince didn't come tonight, I would still come to find you."
Song Yunzhi was not too surprised by what she said.
The secret guard could report that she and Young Master Lan drank a pot of wine, so he would naturally report what they talked about.
"My guess is that the Park family must have been enlightened and come to their senses, realizing that the disadvantages of opening the canal outweigh the advantages. However, the Crown Prince will definitely not give up, so they have a murderous intention to kill him." Qian Tong said, "If the Crown Prince can hold a Hongmen Banquet, the Park family can do the same. Fortunately, someone tipped us off this time and saw through their plan."
Song Yunzhi looked at her.
"Not only the prince, I'm also on the invitation list." Qian Tong said thankfully, "Now that we know the Park family's intentions, we can find an excuse to decline after receiving the invitation tomorrow."
The implication is that she won't go.
Song Yunzhi did not question her. After listening to her story, he thanked her and said, "Thank you, Miss Qi, for telling me."
"No need to thank me," Qian Tong said. "Thanks to Young Master Lan, we were able to avoid such an unforeseen disaster. I'll stay home tomorrow and not go anywhere. I don't believe the Pu family can come and kidnap me." She raised her head, her eyes tentative as she looked across at Prince Song and asked, "Prince Song won't go either, will he?"
The empty wine-smelling cup replied, "No."
Qian Tong breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'm relieved. Prince, would you like to drink? I'll accompany you."
So,
The two talked for half a day, and all that was left in front of them was a table full of leftover wine and cups.
Song Yunzhi glanced at her coldly, rejected her hypocritical invitation, and stood up to say goodbye. "Song is not good at drinking, Madam Qian, please keep it for the others."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.
Seeing him swaggering around like this, Qian Tong behind him hurriedly reminded him: "Sir, be careful, don't let anyone see you, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself..."
Song Yunzhi paused, then opened two doors in front of her and walked out without looking back.
Qian Tong: “…”
He has a bad temper.
——
The next morning, Prince Pingchang arrived at the prefectural government.
A group of about ten light horsemen dismounted and asked Wang Zhao, who had come to meet them, "Is it really my nephew who has come?"
Wang Zhao nodded, "Your Majesty, it is Prince Song."
Prince Pyeongchang and the late emperor were brothers, but he is three generations removed from the current emperor.
Instead, the eldest princess, who was originally just a princess, became the only sister of His Majesty as the person sitting on the dragon throne changed.
When the eldest princess married into the Marquis's mansion, Prince Pingchang had also been to the Song family residence. It was unknown how many years ago that happened. The Prince Song that he remembered was the young and innocent boy who had followed His Majesty into the palace on horseback five years ago. "I haven't seen you for so many years, and you didn't even inform me beforehand when you came. If I hadn't seen that kid Chen Che first, I wouldn't have known that our famous Prince Song had come to Yangzhou."
Wang Zhao smiled and said nothing, "Your Majesty, please."
Song Yunzhi was waiting in the lobby.
Seeing someone coming from afar, he stood up and walked to the door to greet him. He was wearing the official uniform of the imperial court and stood at the door with his hands behind his back. The young man of that year had lost his youthfulness, and his figure was like a bamboo on a cliff, tall and straight. The face that was once as bright as the moon now exuded a sense of integrity after he was dressed in a crimson robe.
When Prince Pingchang saw the man, he was stunned for a moment and said in astonishment, "Yun Zhen? I almost didn't recognize him. He looks more and more like your mother."
Song Yun held his hands in a bow, "Your Majesty."
Prince Pyeongchang was older than the eldest princess and was not tall. He had been a civil official, but due to the constant wars in the previous dynasty, he was forced to go to the battlefield several times and had to practice martial arts. In the end, he was neither civil nor martial, but his body became strong because of this.
Five years ago, the enemy army broke into Kyoto, and the rest of the royal family fled. By the time Your Majesty's Shuzhou army arrived in Kyoto, only King Pingchang was still defending the city gate.
Your Majesty, in recognition of his merits, granted him a fiefdom and ordered him to guard the two Huai regions.
Over the past five years, he has made an indelible contribution to the development of the Jiangnan area to its current prosperity.
"How is Yangzhou?" Prince Pingchang asked Song Yunzhi as he walked in. "Is the climate in Jiangnan different from Kyoto? Are you getting used to it here?"
Song Yunzhi's answer was polite and courteous, "Thank you, Your Highness. You are a very good son."
The King of Pingchang summoned Wang Zhao and showed his hospitality. "Prepare some more wine. I'll pay for it. Let's have a good drink today, uncle and nephew..."
Song Yunzhi followed him to take a seat.
As the wine poured, Prince Pingchang began by discussing the eldest princess. "Your mother is usually very strict with you and your sister. It must have been difficult for Your Majesty to convince her to let you go this time. When I first heard from Chen Che that the Crown Prince had also come, I couldn't believe that Your Majesty had kept it a secret from me..."
Suddenly he asked, "Are these merchants in Yangzhou honest?"
Song Yunzhi refused to answer.
Prince Pyeongchang had heard what had happened to the four great families of Yangzhou. He sighed deeply, feeling both guilty and angry. "Although Yangzhou isn't within my fiefdom, the Crown Prince must have heard of my friendship with the head of the Park family. My daughter was originally promised to the second son of the Park family, but who could have known that the second son would, out of venting his anger, wipe out the entire Lu family? I'm so disappointed! To be honest, I came to Yangzhou this time, firstly to see the Crown Prince, and secondly to demand an explanation from the Park family..."
Song Yunzhi did not respond and declined to comment on the marriage between the two families.
Prince Pyeongchang then put down his wine cup and asked sternly, "What's going on with the third wife of the Park family? How dare she assassinate the Crown Prince?"
Song Yunzhi nodded.
King Pyeongchang suddenly slammed his palm on the wooden table in front of him, shaking the wine jug on it. He angrily said, "The Park family is acting this way. Do they not take me, the king, and the court seriously?!"
Song Yunzhi then said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. From what I have found, the Third Madam's actions have nothing to do with the Park family."
Prince Pyeongchang was stunned for a moment, his anger slowly dissipating, but he still felt resentful. "That's also his Park family. Don't worry, my lord. I will come and seek justice for you."
He didn't need to go begging. Soon, the third son of the Pu family came to the door with a visiting card in hand. "Since the prince came to Yangzhou, many misunderstandings have arisen due to my Pu family's poor hospitality. Today, we learned that the prince was coming, so my Pu family hosted a banquet. First, to apologize to the prince, and second, to welcome him. I hope that the prince and the prince will do me the honor."
Prince Pyeongchang didn't accept the invitation. He glanced at the kneeling third son of the Park family and snorted coldly, "Your family should apologize. Go back and tell Madam Park that the prince and the crown prince will come to your house tonight to see how the Park family apologizes. Don't let me down."
The palace and the Park family have had a close relationship over the years, and the third young master has visited the palace with Madam Park more than once.
Now that the relationship between the Park family and the Crown Prince has become strained, it would be a great pleasure to have the Prince mediate between them.
Knowing that the prince was trying to help him out, the third young master hurriedly stood up, handed over the invitation, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness. My Pu family will certainly open the bed to welcome you."
——
The invitation to the Qian family was also sent by the third young master, and the one who received it was the second master of the Qian family.
Madam Qian is not at home.
When Mr. Qian Er learned that the prince and the crown prince would be there tonight, he repeatedly assured the third young master that the Qian family would definitely not be absent. After receiving the invitation, he quickly sent someone to look for Qian Tong.
After delivering the invitation, the third young master returned to the Park family and happened to meet the eldest young master. It seemed that he was about to leave again.
"Brother." The Third Young Master hurriedly called him back, trying to persuade him to stay. "The Prince and the Crown Prince will both be visiting my Pu family tonight. If you don't have anything else important to do, could you please stay home and help out with some of the chores?"
Mr. Park remained unmoved.
The third son of the Park family pleaded in a low voice, "I know that my brother and mother have had a rift because of Sister Tong's matter, and they don't want to interfere in the Park family's affairs. But tonight, the prince and the crown prince are here, and the future of our Park family is at stake. Father hasn't returned yet, and my second brother has disappeared. I've always been less intelligent than my eldest brother. Second brother, I'm afraid I can't handle this kind of situation..."
Afraid that he wouldn't agree, she whispered, "Sister Tong will come tonight too."
Park Seung-woo's expression changed slightly.
"Brother?"
Not sure what the Third Young Master said moved Park Seung-woo, but he finally agreed, "Yeah."
Seeing that he was willing to stay, the Third Young Master breathed a sigh of relief and said with a radiant face, "I'll go and tell Mother. Brother, go back to your room and pack up. We'll welcome the guests together later."
Just as he was about to turn around, he was stopped by Mr. Park, "Go to my room first, I have something to give you."
The third son of the Pu family was stunned for a moment, thinking that his brother wanted to give him a gift, he followed him into the room without any doubt, and then stood at the desk waiting. After waiting for a long time, he still didn't see the eldest son come out, so he couldn't help but walk behind the screen, "Brother..."
Just after taking two steps, a sudden dizziness came over me.
Before the Third Young Master could react, he fell headfirst.
Young Master Park came out and helped the man onto the bed. He called his trusted confidant and told him to take good care of the third son. He then went to Madam Park's room in his place and said, "Your eldest son is here. If you have any instructions tonight, come to me."
Mrs. Park was surprised to see him. Her face froze. "What can I ask for? It's a good thing you're here. Please help me entertain the guests tonight."
——
The first guest after dusk was Qian Tong.
When someone from below reported, "The seventh lady of the Qian family has arrived," Young Master Pu was also there.
Mrs. Park knew what he was thinking. She glanced at him and warned him, "I won't interfere in your affairs, and you don't need to interfere in mine. You know what to do and what not to do."
He looked up and told the servant, "Ask her in."
The boy didn't move, but lowered his head and moved his feet awkwardly, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
The eldest lady then asked, "Why, do you still want me to go and invite him?"
It’s true.
The servant stole a glance at the eldest master and mustered up the courage to say, "Madam Qian said that she hadn't seen the eldest lady, so she wouldn't dare come in unless the eldest lady or the eldest master came to pick her up personally."
Mrs. Park's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
It’s true that she is a vixen and a troublemaker. She really knows how to handle things.
Before the eldest lady could get angry, the eldest son beside her had already stood up and walked out.
There was still no news from the prince and the young master, and she didn't know whether the young master would come tonight. The eldest lady gritted her teeth, jumped up from the chair, and went to the door with the eldest son to greet them.
She wanted to see if she didn't have legs and wanted someone to carry her in.
——
Qian Tong grew legs and was standing outside the Park family's door, looking up at the Park family's plaque.
She couldn't remember when she last came to the Park family, but it had been more than two years. Two years ago, she was stopped outside the gate and was not allowed in no matter how much she said nice things.
But today she was given another invitation, and the door of the Park family was opened for her.
It's no wonder she didn't go in. She really couldn't believe it. She wasn't sure if she had seen it wrong, or if the Park family had made a mistake. That's why they asked the servant to ask the eldest lady to come and tell her in person whether she was the one being invited to the banquet.
Her exact words were: "Does your Madam really agree to let me in? If I make a mistake and get kicked out later, I'll be so embarrassed."
The servant nodded, "It is absolutely true. Today, the eldest lady is hosting a banquet for Miss Qian Qi. Miss Qian, please come."
Qian Tong shook his head: "I don't believe it."
The servant was overwhelmed and said helplessly, "What do you want Madam Qian to believe?"
Qian Tong: "Unless I see your eldest lady with my own eyes."
The servant recognized her and saw through her thoughts. He knew that she still remembered the hatred from that year, so he deliberately made things difficult for her and said perfunctorily, "Madam is busy. Please go in, Madam Qian."
Qian Tong was not in a hurry. "It doesn't matter. Your eldest son is at home, right? If the eldest lady is busy, he can come."
The servant didn't want to pay attention to it and thought to himself, it's up to you to come in or not.
But Qian Qi Niangzi, who was standing opposite him, seemed to have heard his inner thoughts and turned away. "Forget it, I must have made a mistake. I won't go in."
The servant was stunned. He had received an order today to let the seventh lady of the Qian family in. Seeing her about to leave, he hurriedly stopped her and said, "Madam Qian, wait a moment. I will report to you right away."
Qian Tong waited for a while reluctantly.
After a while, Qian Tong saw Mr. Park first. He was stunned for a moment and asked unexpectedly: "Mr. Park is at home? I thought you were not here."
She had a smile on her face and it seemed like just an ordinary greeting, but anyone could hear the revenge in her tone.
Park Seung-woo's face turned pale at this.
Qian Tong saw Madam Park following him again. He looked surprised and delighted. He quickly apologized and explained, "Madam, please don't blame me. I received an invitation to a banquet from your mansion today. I didn't dare to believe it, but I was afraid that I might have let you down. So I came to ask if you really invited me to the banquet."
Madam Park's face had turned black from the cold she had been wearing all the way here, but now she had to hold back a stiff smile, "Seventh Lady, you're not mistaken. It was this old woman who invited you. I wonder if you'd be willing to do me the honor?"
Qian Tong knelt down and saluted, "Since the eldest lady is sincerely inviting me to a banquet, how dare I neglect it?"
The eldest lady didn't bother to look at her and turned to leave.
Qian Tong lifted her skirt slightly and stepped forward step by step. After crossing the threshold, she turned back and said with a smile to the servant walking at the end, "Hey, has the threshold of your house been repaired? It's much lower."
Servant: .....
Looking at the eldest son's face again, it was unbearable to look at it.
Before she could say anything hurtful again, he finally couldn't hold back and grabbed her arm, saying to the eldest lady who was walking in front, "Mother is busy, son will go and entertain Tong'er first."
The princess still lives in the Park family.
The prince and princess would be here soon. How could she explain his tangle with that vixen? The eldest lady looked at her disappointing son and stumbled in anger. A maid held her back and said angrily, "What a sin he has committed..."
The maid supported her and whispered, "Madam, please be patient..."
The eldest lady came to her senses in time, calmed herself down, and thought to herself that once tonight was over, all the troubles would be gone.
The second guest was Princess Pyeongchang.
The eldest lady accompanied her to the banquet and quietly told the princess that everything was ready and they were just waiting for people to arrive.
The two waited anxiously until it was almost dark when they heard a noise outside. A servant hurried in and stood outside the door, announcing, "Madam, the prince and the young master are here."
The eldest lady and Princess Pyeongchang looked at each other, breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly stood up to greet them at the door.
The group of people who came did not want to attract attention, so they chose to come out after dark. They did not bring any cavalry with them, but only two followers. The prince walked in front, and Prince Song slowed down a bit behind him. The two of them walked in while chatting and laughing.
Mrs. Park came forward and bowed to the ground with the Park family members behind her, "I greet the prince, the crown prince..."
The prince glanced at her, still showing some dissatisfaction in his eyes. He paused for a moment before saying, "No need to be polite."
Madam Park stood up and enthusiastically led the way, saying, "It is a great blessing for our family that the prince and the crown prince can patronize our Park family. The princess arrived a moment earlier and is already waiting at the table. Although the head of the family is not here today, I will definitely take the responsibility of entertaining the prince and the crown prince."
After saying this, he turned around and ordered the servant, "Go and call the eldest master."
Hearing that the eldest son was at the mansion, Prince Pyeongchang was a little surprised and asked, "Is Park Seung-woo here too?"
The eldest lady nodded. "I'm here. I came back the day before yesterday. I heard that the prince and princess were coming, so I stayed to wait for them..." Realizing that this was not the place to talk, she hurriedly said, "Prince, Prince, please take your seat."
The two of them inadvertently revealed the close relationship between the two families.
Song Yunzhi didn't say anything.
King Pyeongchang turned around and invited him to go into the lobby of the Park family. After entering the house, he met the princess who had arrived earlier and they exchanged greetings.
The princess spoke in a warm tone, asking about the eldest princess' recent situation over the past two years. She also mentioned Song Yunzhi's sister. "When Mingfeng left Kyoto, she cried bitterly, reluctant to leave Zhao Jieer. After arriving in Jiangnan, she took some time to recover before she was willing to go out and socialize. I wonder how Zhao Jieer has been doing these past two years? The young master of the Duke's Mansion has now come of age. Have you discussed a wedding date..."
Song Yunzhi replied one by one: "Everything is fine, the wedding date is being discussed."
"That's good, when there's an opportunity..."
"Father, Mother." The voice was interrupted as Mingfeng rushed in from outside, her face extremely grim. Seeing Song Yunzhi, she only nodded perfunctorily. Unable to contain her anger, she ignored the others present and knelt before them, begging, "Father and Mother, please cancel my marriage with the Park family."
She suddenly barged in and publicly resisted the marriage, and both King Pyeongchang and the Queen looked a little embarrassed.
The princess knew she was in Yangzhou, but the Prince of Pingchang was unaware. Seeing her acting so rashly, he said coldly, "Who told you to come here? Get up first."
The eldest lady was startled by Mingfeng's words and took the opportunity to persuade her, "Princess, let's take a seat first. If there is anything, we can talk about it slowly tonight. I guarantee you will be satisfied. How do you think?"
Mingfeng turned her head and stared at her, sneering, "Madam, tell me first, how can you satisfy me?"
Before the Madam could speak, Mingfeng continued to question, "The second son of the Pu family is gone, so which of your sons are you going to marry to me, Madam?"
She was too blunt in her words, and Madam Park was embarrassed. But she was also afraid that she would make a fuss, so she said, "I have already promised the princess about this matter, and I will never go back on my word."
Unexpectedly, Mingfeng said with great disdain, "Madam, are you talking about your eldest son?"
Just then, the eldest son of the Zipu family came over, followed by the seventh lady of the Qian family. Mingfeng smiled and asked the eldest lady, "Is it him?"
Master Park had no idea what was going on inside. He stood at the door and, along with the young lady beside him, saluted the four people opposite him, "Your Majesty, Princess, Crown Prince, Princess..."
The eyes of the Pyeongchang King's family all fell on Prince Park, except Song Yunzhi who looked at the person behind him.
Their eyes met, and they saw questioning and contempt in each other's eyes, but at the same time they were very calm.
We talked by candlelight last night, but it was all in vain.
However, Qian Tong couldn't care less about this at the moment. He had a premonition that something bad was going to happen next. He was about to leave when he heard Ming Feng say, "Seventh Lady, you've come at the perfect time. Don't be in such a hurry to leave."
Qian Tong had no choice but to stand still.
Mingfeng turned to look at Madam Park and continued, "Madam, are you really not afraid that after this princess marries the eldest son, she will come after your family, the Pu family, to settle accounts?"
When she said this, everyone present was stunned, and the eldest lady didn't understand what she meant.
Mingfeng sneered, "Madam, you're truly wicked in your desire to cling to my father. First, you promised your homosexual second son to me, your princess. Now that he's gone, you're trying to force your inhumane eldest son onto me. Who do you think I am, your princess, and who do you think my father and mother are?"
When the eldest lady heard the word "broken sleeve", her face changed. After hearing her whole sentence, she was dumbfounded again and asked, "Ridiculous! Who said this?"
Not only her, but the prince and princess also changed their expressions.
What about the second son being a homosexual and the eldest son being inhumane? The palace was completely unaware of this news. The marriage between the two families was originally begged by the head of the Pu family on his knees before the prince. If these rumors were true, the Pu family would be completely disrespectful to them...
Regardless of whether it was true or not, the princess's eyes were already fixed on the eldest lady.
Lian Song Yunzhi also raised his head.
"Madam, are you asking about the eldest young master's inhumanity?" The princess didn't wait for the eldest young master to explain, and raised her hand without hesitation to point at Qian Tong. "The seventh lady of the Qian family was once in love with the eldest young master. She has the final say on whether the eldest young master is capable or not."
Qian Tong's eyes turned dark.
The eldest lady's face turned green.
Mingfeng looked at the silent Master Pu, whose gaze was fixed on Madam Qian, and continued, "Before, your Pu family treated the Master as a treasure, no one was worthy of him, not even Madam Qian, and not even this princess. Now that the Master has become inhumane, you dare to take him out and make this and that promise."
Mingfeng only wanted to cancel the engagement today, regardless of whether the other party lived or died. "If the eldest lady had not been in Haizhou and had locked up the seventh lady and the eldest son together, I'm afraid that the eldest son's inhumanity would still be unknown to this day."
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